Testing a Synthetic ECE Diagnostic for ITER

POSTER

Abstract

Electron cyclotron emission (ECE) diagnostics for ITER will measure plasma electron temperature with high spatial and temporal resolution, and are used to detect neoclassical tearing modes (NTMs). Interpreting ECE requires anticipating physical limits including frequency cut-offs and harmonic overlap. Additionally, in high temperature plasmas relativistic shift and broadening of the emission must be considered to accurately reconstruct the electron temperature spatial profile. Accounting for these effects allows ECE diagnostics to be used for accurate measurement of the equilibrium electron temperature profile, as well as fluctuations about this equilibrium. One such fluctuation is caused by the fast radial transport of heat across magnetic islands. ECE diagnostics can detect this change as an oscillation at the plasma rotation frequency to determine the existence and location of NTMs. This poster presents work on a synthetic diagnostic for ECE. The synthetic diagnostic tests simulated ECE signals that account for anticipated physics issues are derived from simulated ITER scenarios, perturbed with magnetic islands. The diagnostic tests ECE detection of NTMs in real-time. Combined, these two areas of focus help determine design of the ECE system.

*Work supported by the U.S. DOE under Contract No. DE-AC02-09CH11466 with Princeton University. All U.S. ITER activities are managed by the U.S. ITER Project Office, hosted by Oak Ridge National Laboratory with partner labs Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory and Savannah River National Laboratory. The project is being accomplished through a collaboration of DOE Laboratories, universities, and industry. The views and opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of the ITER Organization.

Presenters

  • Joseph P Ziegel

    • University of Texas at Austin

Authors

  • Joseph P Ziegel

    • University of Texas at Austin
  • William L Rowan

    • University of Texas at Austin
  • Francois Waelbroeck

    • University of Texas - Austin